When Was Running Invented? A Brief History Of Running

Type into Google “when was running invented” and the search engine would tell you that Thomas Running was the genius behind running.

Not true.

Here’s the truth: Running wasn’t “invented” by one person—it’s as natural to us as breathing.

In fact, evidence shows that humans started to run at least two million years ago.

One cool theory about why we developed this ability is called “persistence hunting.” The idea is that early humans weren’t necessarily the fastest, but we could outlast our prey. By chasing animals for long distances, we’d eventually tire them out, making the hunt successful.

In other words, running is as old as humanity, and our ancestors needed to run. Their survival depended on it.

With that said, let’s dive into the history of running and how logging the miles became a part of being human.

Who Was Thomas Running?

Before we dive into the rich history of running, let’s put the Thomas Running meme to bed.

Spoiler alert: he’s not real.

This little joke about Thomas Running being the “inventor” of running has floated around social media and given us all a good laugh.

But the truth is, Thomas didn’t come up with running.

That meme is part of a trend that pokes fun at the idea of invention by making up silly characters like Joshua Jogging or John Lie.

Funny? Absolutely.

Historically accurate? Not even close.

But enough about memes. Let’s talk about the real story of running.

When Was Running Invented?

Now, here’s the truth: no one “invented” running. It’s an innate ability we’ve had since the dawn of time.

Humans and animals naturally do running—it’s built into our biology. Just like walking, jumping, and eating, it’s a basic function of having legs.

Science suggests that our ability to run can be traced back to our earliest ancestors.

We’re talking millions of years ago when running wasn’t about burning calories or training for races—it was about survival. Believe it or not, some of the earliest forms of sport can be traced back to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Greeks.

Why Did Early Humans Run?

Back then, running was essential for one big reason: staying alive.

If you couldn’t run, you didn’t survive.

Imagine chasing after prey for dinner or, worse, running away from something that saw you as its dinner. That’s how our ancestors lived. The ability to cover long distances was crucial for hunting and escaping predators.

Running wasn’t just a fitness hobby; it was woven into the fabric of survival. Evolutionary scientists say that being able to run long distances was a key factor in shaping modern humans. It helped us survive, thrive, and become who we are today.

The Evolution of Running

So, how far back does running go?

Scientists say that our ability to run dates back to when early humans evolved from primates about seven million years ago. This is when our ancestors started transitioning from climbing trees to walking upright on two legs—bipedalism.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how running evolved:

4.5 Million Years Ago – Walking Begins:

The earliest evidence of animals walking on two legs dates back about 4 million years ago. Our early ancestors, like Australopithecus, were already walking upright before knowing what tools were.

3.5 Million Years Ago – The Next Step:

Around this time, fossils show that early humans had walking patterns similar to ours today.

2.6 Million Years Ago – The Emergence of Running:

Our ancestors evolved specific features that made them better suited for running. This was likely when they began using persistence hunting—a technique where hunters would chase prey over long distances until it was too exhausted to run.

So, if you’re feeling winded after a long run, just remember: running helped our ancestors eat!

Running Made Us Who We Are

Let’s not forget that being a faster runner often meant being a better hunter. And in a world where hunting was a key to survival, this skill was everything. If you could run, you could hunt; if you could hunt, you could eat.

Scientists have found all sorts of traits in early humans that suggest we evolved to be long-distance runners. These traits helped us compete with faster predators in the plains of Africa. For example:

• Our shoulders became “decoupled,” which means our bodies could rotate while keeping our heads stable—perfect for running.
• We developed better ways to cool ourselves down while running (thank goodness!).
• Our bodies grew taller and leaner, with narrower waists and bigger glutes to help us stay stable while running.

From Survival to Sport

Once humans learned how to farm and domesticate animals, running took on a new role. Survival wasn’t the main reason to run anymore.

Take ancient Egypt, for example. Egyptians, Greeks, and Persians all employed messengers (chasqui is a famous example) who would run long distances to deliver news—imagine being the ancient version of a mailman, but with no cars or bikes, just your two feet.

They had horses, but human runners were better suited for rough terrains and steep climbs.

These civilizations also celebrated running as a sport. Back then, professional runners were like the rockstars of their time. Think of it—being fast on your feet was as prestigious as it gets.

Running as a Symbol of Power

One of the earliest recorded uses of running was as a symbol of power and endurance, especially in ancient Egypt. The Sed festival, a ceremony going back to over 3,000 B.C., celebrated the continued reign of the Pharaoh.

After 30 years in power, the Pharaoh would participate in the Sed festival every three years after that, essentially running laps to prove his fitness to rule.

The Pharaoh had to complete four laps of a designated course, changing his royal outfit midway through to symbolize his rule over Upper and Lower Egypt.

It sounds like a fancy version of a royal relay race, right?

But here’s the kicker: some historians believe that if the Pharaoh failed to complete the course, it was a sign that he was no longer fit to rule.

Talk about high stakes. Imagine if your next promotion at work depended on whether you could finish a 5K!

Running as Competition: From Rituals to Races

At some point, running went from a necessity and symbolic act to something we did for fun and competition. The first evidence of competitive racing comes from the Tailteann Games in Ireland, between 600 and 1100 B.C.

These games, held in honor of the goddess Tailtin, were some of the earliest organized athletic events. There were all kinds of competitions, but running races were a big deal.

Around the same time, the ancient Greeks were getting into the action with the first-ever Olympic Games in 776 B.C. The original event was pretty simple—just a foot race. The runners competed on a track about 200 yards long, and that was it.

As a coach, I always remind my athletes that this is where the word “stadium” comes from, too. The track was called the stadion.

The Olympics eventually added more events, like wrestling and boxing, but running was always a main attraction. They even had a long-distance race called the Dolichos, introduced in 720 B.C. But by 393 A.D., Emperor Theodosius I stopped the games as part of his mission to spread Christianity and squash pagan traditions.

And just like that, the ancient Olympics were gone—until they were revived centuries later.

The Marathon Legend

I can’t talk about running history without mentioning the famous marathon legend. According to Greek lore, Pheidippides, a soldier, ran from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens—about 25 miles—to announce victory over the Persians.

Unfortunately, after delivering the news, he collapsed and died from exhaustion.

While this story has inspired millions of runners worldwide (myself included) to take on the marathon distance, there’s more to it.

Pheidippides wasn’t just a guy who ran 25 miles and dropped dead; he was a trained messenger, used to running long distances.

Still, his final run from Marathon to Athens set the foundation for the modern marathon—though we’ve added an extra 1.2 miles to the race distance today.

Blame the British royal family for that—they wanted the race to finish in front of their viewing box at the 1908 London Olympics.

The Rise of The Jogger

Ever wonder how jogging became a thing? You’re not alone.

While running has been a natural part of human life for millennia, jogging as a recreational activity has a much more recent—and fascinating—history.

As someone who has spent countless hours both on the road and guiding new runners, I find the journey of running’s rise to modern popularity pretty incredible. Let’s break it down, step by step.

The Early Days of Jogging

The word “jogging” actually first popped up in the 16th century, but back then, it wasn’t the accessible sport it is today.

Jogging was a practice reserved for the upper classes, especially noble swordsmen who used it to build endurance and stamina for battle. These early joggers were essentially the original fitness enthusiasts, but it wasn’t exactly something everyone could join in on.

Fast forward through the centuries, and jogging—and running in general—became more popular, especially with the rise of professional sports. But it wasn’t until much later that the real boom in running began.

The Men Who Made Running Popular

You have a few key figures to thank if you’ve ever wondered how running went from a niche activity to something your neighbor, coworker, and even your grandma might do.

Arthur Lydiard, an Olympic track coach from New Zealand, is often credited with starting the jogging movement. He founded the Auckland Jogger Club and introduced the concept of running for fitness, not just competition.

But the real spark came when Bill Bowerman, a University of Oregon track coach, visited Lydiard in New Zealand. Bowerman went for a jog with Lydiard, and the experience impacted him so much that he brought the idea back to the U.S.

He even wrote a book called Jogging in 1967, a cultural sensation that helped kick off the running craze in America.

As a running coach, I can tell you that once something is recommended by medical and health professionals—as jogging soon was—it’s only a matter of time before it catches on.

And that’s exactly what happened.

In 1968, the U.S. National Jogging Association was founded to promote running as a form of exercise.

Combine that with American Frank Shorter’s gold medal victory in the 1972 Olympic Marathon, and you had the perfect storm that led to the running boom of the 1970s.

Running Goes Mainstream

In the 1970s, running wasn’t just for athletes—it became a way of life for millions of Americans.

By the end of the decade, more than 25 million people in the U.S. were hitting the pavement.

Even high-profile figures like President Jimmy Carter and Hollywood stars like Clint Eastwood participated in this running revolution. I can’t help but think how different the running world would be today without that pivotal era.

But it wasn’t just personal passion driving the boom.

Companies like Nike saw the potential in running and made it their mission to promote the sport—while selling shoes and gear. Unsurprisingly, this mix of personal fitness and commercial backing took running to the next level.

Key Moments in Running History

Now that we’ve touched on the rise of running in modern times let’s take a look at some of the key moments that have shaped running as we know it today:

• 490 B.C.: The legendary story of Pheidippides, the Greek soldier who supposedly ran from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens (about 25 miles) to announce victory over the Persians. Though not entirely verified, this feat inspires the modern marathon.
• 1896: The first modern Olympic Games are held in Athens, featuring 100-meter and 400-meter sprints and the marathon event.
• 1897: The Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest annual marathon, is born, inspired by the first Olympic marathon the previous year. The original route was 24.5 miles long.
• 1908: The marathon distance is standardized at 26.2 miles during the London Olympics, thanks to a route adjustment to accommodate the British royal family.
• 1960: Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila wins the barefoot Olympic marathon in Rome, setting a world record. This iconic moment brought international attention to the sport.
• 1972: Frank Shorter wins the Olympic marathon in Munich, sparking the U.S. running boom of the ’70s.
• 1984: The first official women’s marathon at the Olympics is held in Los Angeles, with Joan Benoit Samuelson crossing the finish line in 2:24:52 to win gold.
• 2007: The New York City Marathon becomes the largest marathon in the world, with over 38,000 participants.
• 2009: Christopher McDougall’s book Born to Run hits the New York Times best-seller list, popularizing minimalist and natural running techniques.
• 2016: Ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes completes 50 marathons in 50 states over 50 consecutive days, cementing his legendary status in the running world.

The Role of Capitalism in Running’s Rise

Of course, running’s rise wasn’t just due to personal passion and athletic feats. Companies like Nike played a significant role in making running mainstream. They saw the potential in promoting running as a sport and a lifestyle.

By the 1980s, Nike and other companies were driving a new wave of running culture, making the sport more accessible and fashionable.

As a running coach, I’ve seen firsthand how good gear can change the game. Whether it’s the right pair of shoes or technical apparel, having the right tools can make running more enjoyable and comfortable.

Running: A Gift from Our Ancestors

So, when was running invented? The short answer is—it wasn’t.

Running has always been a part of us. It’s something we were born to do. Long before it became a sport or a way to stay fit, running was a matter of survival for our ancestors.

And even though we now run for fun, fitness, and competition, the legacy of running is still very much alive in all of us.

Whether you’re training for your first 5K or trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon, remember that running is in your DNA. So lace up, hit the road, and keep that legacy strong.